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Every awesome family vacation includes a variety of things to do both indoors and outdoors. In this article, we’ll feature the top Wisconsin Dells indoor activities that you and your family will love!
Rain or shine, you can count on any of these Wisconsin Dells indoor activities to add epic entertainment value to your Wisconsin Dells family vacation!
All of these indoor attractions are perfect for enjoying on a rainy day, during cold weather, and when you need a break from the outdoor fun and sun that the Dells are most commonly known for.
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Wisconsin Dells Indoor Activities
Nicknamed the “Waterpark Capital of the World”, 4+ million visitors from around the world flock to the city of Wisconsin Dells to experience its famous indoor and outdoor water parks.
For many of us from the Midwest, Wisconsin Dells tops the list of our U.S. bucket list!
Along with massive waterpark resorts, this popular family vacation destination in Southern Wisconsin is saturated with amusement parks, restaurants, and other epic entertainment venues that offer guaranteed year-round fun.
Here is our list of the Top 8 Wisconsin Dells Indoor Activities (including waterparks!) that you need to check out when visiting the Dells!
1. Indoor Waterparks
Along with the amazing history of the Dells, Wisconsin Dells is most commonly known for the fact that it is home to the largest configuration of indoor and outdoor waterparks per capita than anywhere else on the planet.
With over 200+ waterslides, there are more than 16 million gallons of water within the Wisconsin Dells’ many indoor and outdoor waterparks.
A mecca for water park fun, the following resorts have indoor (and outdoor) areas that include a combination of: extreme plunge slides, tube rides, racing speed slides, bowl drops, water roller coasters, indoor surf machines, massive wave pools, and lazy rivers.
- Wilderness Resort (Hotel guest exclusive; our personal favorite resort!)
- Great Wolf Lodge (Day passes offered; a great resort for younger children!)
- Kalahari Resort (Day passes offered.)
- Chula Vista Resort and Waterpark (Day passes offered.)
- Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort (Hotel guest exclusive.)
Approximate cost: Where noted, day passes to the indoor waterparks may be available for purchase based upon availability.
On the other hand, most resorts require overnight accommodation reservations in which the nightly rate includes waterpark wristbands for each registered hotel guest.
Prices range from $150-$600/night per resort room depending on the season and where you stay.
Additional planning tip: Read our full review of Great Wolf Lodge, Bloomington here to get a feel for the brand.
2. Wisconsin Dells Escape Rooms
As one of the most popular Wisconsin Dells indoor activities, escape rooms provide amazing entertainment for families with kids ages 10 & up.
Escape Rooms, also known as an Escape Game, are themed rooms where you and your team (family) have to find hidden clues and solve puzzles to ‘escape’ the room within an allotted time (usually 60 minutes).
These Wisconsin Dells escape rooms offer various themes and character experiences that tweens, teens, and adults will love!
- Elusive Escape Rooms
- Dells Escape Rooms
- Booby Trap Escape Rooms
- D.O.A. Room Escape at Wilderness Resort
Approximate cost: Most escape games cost $25 to $30 per person for a one-hour game. There are usually 10 to 12 players allowed per game.
3. Knuckleheads
Knuckleheads is a huge indoor amusement and trampoline park that is perfect when in search of Wisconsin Dells indoor fun!
There is literally something to do for everyone as Knuckleheads offers a trampoline park, gigantic jumping pillow, roller coaster, arcade, XD theater, go-karts, a ropes course, and more.
There are also 10 state-of-the-art cosmic bowling lanes with 20 HDTVs and a full bar and grill menu.
On a cold or rainy day, Knuckleheads is the place to be when visiting the Dells!
Approximate cost: All activities can be purchased and done via a ‘single-ride, bundled into packages, or enjoyed via an all-day wristband. Prices vary significantly and can be found on the Knuckleheads website.
4. The Palace Theater
The Palace Theater is a beloved indoor dinner theater in Wisconsin Dells that produces classical Broadway, children’s theater shows, comedy, and concerts.
With both Dinner & Show, and Show-Only tickets available, your evening can be customized accordingly. For an extra special experience, however, we always prefer to dine from the 3-course a la carte menu before we enjoy the show.
Past shows at Palace Theater have included Mama Mia, Mary Poppins, Johnny Cash: Ring of Fire, The Little Mermaid, and hundreds more!
Approximate Cost: Adult dinner and show tickets start at $55.95. Child (ages 2-12) dinner and show tickets start at $19.95.
5. Wisconsin Dells Virtual Reality Experiences
(There are currently no virtual reality experiences open in Wisconsin Dells as of 9/25/23.)
Typically only suitable for ages 13+, another craze in Wisconsin Dells indoor entertainment is Virtual Reality.
Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated experience that uses 3D technology to place the VR the user ‘inside’ an experience.
Instead of simply viewing a screen, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds that simulate as many of the 5 senses as possible.
Approximate cost: Prices for VR experiences are based on how long you choose to play the game. Examples include $15 for 15 minutes of play and $45 for 60 minutes of play.
6. Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park
Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park is similar to Knuckleheads in that it is a gigantic indoor amusement park loaded with fun.
Featuring a ropes course, climbing wall, indoor zip line, bowling, laser tag, go-karts, mini-golf, and 250 of the very best in arcade games, Tom Foolery’s has a little bit of everything!
Located within Wisconsin Dells’ Kalahari Resort, you do not need to be a registered guest at the hotel to visit Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park.
Instead, day passes can be purchased for either or both the indoor waterpark and indoor amusement park at Kalahari Resort.
Approximate cost: Both hotel guests and outside guests need to purchase a day pass to enjoy Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park. Prices are as follows.
Tom Foolery’s day passes for guests staying at Kalahari:
- Persons 42″ tall and up: $34.99
- Persons under 42″ tall: $14.99
Tom Foolery’s day passes for outside guests:
- Persons 42″ tall and up: $37.99
- Persons under 42″ tall: $16.99
7. Wizard Quest
Both Wizard Quest, and MagiQuest (located within Great Wolf Lodge) provide an immensely fun and interactive game of fantasy for kids!
These live, hands-on, brain-teasing adventures involve solving riddles, finding clues, and answering questions to find and free your chosen wizard.
As somewhat of a magical indoor scavenger hunt, Wizard Quest has become a family favorite when looking for a kid-friendly Wisconsin Dells indoor activity!
Approximate cost: Prices are ‘per quest’ and range from $12.99 for children ages 3-11 and $16.99 per adult. Most quests have a 60-minute time limit.
8. Rick Wilcox Magic Theater
The Rick Wilcox magic show has been rated the “#1 Attraction in Wisconsin Dells” each year since 2010!
This 60-minute magic, comedy, and illusion show includes random audience participation and “live-show surprises”, all of which are completely family-friendly.
Located in its own giant, air-conditioned theater, the Roy Wilcox Magic Show is the perfect attraction for when it is raining or for when you need a break from the heat and sun.
Approximate cost: Tickets are either $35 or $50 based on which section you choose. Exact seating is ‘best available upon arrival’.
Wisconsin Dells Indoor Activities -Runners-Up
Though these indoor activities did not make our Top 8 List, they can be equally as fun based on the interests of your family.
I will warn you, however, that the last three are not worth your time or money.
Here is a short description of the ‘Runners-Up’ Wisconsin Dells indoor activities, all of which are located in the heart of the Dells.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
Discover weird oddities, both animal and human. Witness the strange, the unbelievable, and the downright loony in this museum of sorts.
Ripley’s contains 8 galleries, 2 sit-down theaters, and 7 video presentations.
Tommy Bartlett Exploratory
Experience virtual reality adventures, simulator excitement, mirrors, magic, puzzles, holograms, and scientific wonders in this Wisconsin Dells science museum.
Filled with more than 175 interactive activities, you’ll get lost in the wonders of science, technology, space, and fun!
Wild Fun Zone
Wild Fun Zone is home to the Dells’ largest laser tag arena as well as bumper cars, 3D Jungle Mini Golf, and a mega arcade.
There is also an eatery here with a large selection of flavored slushies, ice cream, pizza, and snacks.
Chalet Lanes and Lounge
Chalet Lanes and Lounge is a Wisconsin Dells bowling alley known for ‘Rock & Bowl’, a bowling experience that involves party lights, a sound system, and a fog machine.
There is automatic scoring, a game room, and bumper bowling for the kids.
Krazy Mirror Maze
Plan to get lost, feel dizzy, play games, and be surprised throughout this maze of mirrors.
The endless mirrors and 3D effects may be scary for little ones, however. (Children under age 5 should not go in the maze.)
Ghost Outpost
Simply a way to pass time indoor while in the Dells, Ghost Outpost is a short haunted house with automated monsters and creeps (no live actors).
Lost Temple
Lost Temple is another Dells haunted house attraction in which a tour guide takes you on a trip through a Mayan Temple in search of the Golden Skull.
Top Secret
Top Secret is the “Upside White House” located in Wisconsin Dells that will not go unnoticed as you drive through the Dells.
Visiting this tourist trap involves nothing other than walking through a building with slanted floors and furniture and photos hanging upside down.
Though it may look intriguing, I recommend skipping this one.
What is your favorite indoor activity in Wisconsin Dells? Also, please comment by letting our fellow readers know which waterpark resort is your favorite!
Jen
Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to find exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*
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This looks like a great trip to keep the kiddos busy, or adults that want to have fun like kids!
Yes, it is! The Dells was our first getaway (which became an annual getaway) that we took when our kids were little. It is a magical place!
I have never been to Wisconsin but you just made me want to put it in my bucket list! Great post!
Thank you! Yes, the Dells is a bucket list destination if you live within driving distance (maybe not worth flying there?)!
My girls will love the Escape Room. It’s the fear of the unknown that will make it more exciting for Tweens. They love to solve puzzles and mysteries. It will be great fun for them.
Thank you for reading! Yes!! My tween loves Escape Rooms too!
This sounds like my 7yo’s dream destination with all those waterparks!
Yes…it is pretty much a gigantic children’s wonderland!!!
Wow!! This all looks so fun! I think my family would LOVE the Wisconsin Dells area! So which waterpark is your family’s favorite?
Our favorite is The Wilderness Resort (and waterpark). It is HUGE…has so much to do, and the indoor and outdoor areas are both fabulous! Staying here is an entire vacation in itself 🙂